Moral Principles in "L'Ingenu"

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the moral freedom of the individual in "L'Ingenu" by Voltaire. It looks at how the central character Ingenu (the Ingenuous One or The Huron) is often described by Voltaire as the "noble savage", ultimately representing a far more noble morality in relation to the 'civilized' Europeans in the story. It examines how Voltaire uses the outwardly barbaric nature of a Native American to define the relativity of moral values, which reflect the objective diversity of moral tenets outside of French moral absolutism.

From the Paper:

"The subjectivity of moral values in Voltaire's novella L'Ingenu is revealed through his main character, the Huron. Although the Huron appears to be a representative of the "barbaric" Native American culture, he is actually being represented as an alternate source of morality outside of Voltaire's own culture. Of course, the Huron meets many upper class elites from French society, and they define him as being the "noble savage" or a tribesperson below their civilized station. The French view of the Huron Indians is often deemed unworthy of the refinement that French society represents in the world through Voltaire's narrative. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Voltaire. Candide and Other Stories. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.

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